Device for moving large and heavy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for moving large and heavy apparatus comprising an elongated support member secured to a frame, a load shoe is carried by the support member for movement longitudinally of the support member. In a specific embodiment, two such devices are positioned side by side and a large and heavy load, for example, a transformer, is positioned on the load shoes of the two devices. The elongated support members of the devices are generally parallel to each other. A fluid actuated cylinder is connected to each load shoe, the cylinders being connected to a common pressurized fluid source and control.

United States Patent [151 3,659,823 Griffin 1 May 2, 1972 54] DEVICE FOR MOVING LARGE AND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS HEAVY APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Kenneth H. Griffin, Uniondale, Ind.

[73] Assignee: G & L Corporation, Fort Wayne, Ind.

[22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 26,542

[52] U.S. Cl ..254/93, 254/105 [51] Int. Cl. ..B66f 3/24 [58] Field ofSearch... ..254/l05, 106, 107, 108, 109, 254/84, 93; l98/2l8 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,03 l ,l67 4/1962 Roussel ..254/105 3,140,076 7/l964 Steadman ....254/l05 3,510,012 5/1970 Van Mereren ..254/105 X 414,104 l2/l966 Switzerland ..254/ l 05 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerHadd S. Lane Attorney-Hood, Gust, Irish & Lundy [57] ABSTRACT A device for moving large and heavy apparatus comprising an elongated support member secured to a frame, a load shoe is carried by the support member for movement longitudinally of the support member. In a specific embodiment, two such devices are positioned side by side and a large and heavy load, for example, a transformer, is positioned on the load shoes of the two devices. The elongated support members of the devices are generally parallel to each other. A fluid actuated cylinder is connected to each load shoe, the cylinders being connected to a common pressurized fluid source and control.

8 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOP? 1 KENNETH H. GQIFFIN 2 FIG-3 E Y lwaidiwid ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet FIGJE:

ENGINE FIG-14' Fleul's 24 1, INVENTOR KENNETH H.Gmwr=-n-|, 5o MBY MlO/QLYM ATTORNEYS- DEVICE FOR MOVING LARGE AND HEAVY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a device for moving large and heavy apparatus, for example, transformers, machines and like objects, and to a device which can be used by riggers or installers of such objects to position such objects in final position.

2. Description of the Prior Art There has long been desired devices for moving large and heavy objects, for example, transformers, machines and like objects. Such objects may weigh several hundred tons and be extremely large and bulky, for example, such objects may measure 30 feet by 30 feet by 20 feet. Such devices must be moved with precision especially to place the same where desired during installation. A lack of proper control over the movement of such devices may be time consuming and may result in damage to both the object being moved and its surroundings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an apparatus comprising a load carrying device having an elongated support member secured to a frame, and a load carrier or shoe supported on the member. Means is provided for moving the load shoe Iongitudinally of the support member.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved device for moving large and heavy apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device which can be used by riggers, erectors or machinery movers to move large and heavy apparatus, for example, transformers and like apparatus while installing or relocating such apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved device for moving large and heavy apparatus, the device being portable such that it can be carried from one location to another.

Still further an object of this invention is to provide an improved device for moving large and heavy apparatus with a degree of maneuverability allowing the apparatus to be moved and positioned as desired over both small and relatively large distances, around comers, and over terrains such as those found at construction sites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of the device of this invention, illustrating, in dashed lines, a load on the load shoes of the device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a load shoe of the device of this invention, in supported relationship on a fragmentary portion of the frame and support members of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 taken substantially along the section line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 taken substantially along the section line 44;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the frame and support members of the device of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 taken substantially along the section line 66;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 taken substantially along the section line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 taken substantially along the section line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the fluid actuated ram and associated means for connecting the ram to the frame and supporting members of the device;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 taken substantially along the section line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10 taken substantially along the section line 11-11;

FIG. 12 is a view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 taken substantially along the section line 12-12 of FIG. 9, the fluid actuated cylinder being removed;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the device of the invention in use; the fluid source, compressor and controls being illustrated diagrammatically;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13 taken substantially along the section line 1414; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13 taken substantially along the section line 15-l5.

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown the device 10 of the invention. Device 10 comprises a frame 12 having elongated support members 14 and 16 secured to the frame 12, and a load carrier or load shoe 18, a cylinder shoe 31, and a fluid actuated cylinder 22 supported on the members 14 and 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown the load shoe 18 of the invention. Load shoe 18 comprises an elongated member 24 having an upwardly facing surface 26 and an end 28. Adjacent end 28 there is secured to the member 24 a stop 30. Stop 30 has a surface 32 which extends upwardly from the surface 26 in a generally perpendicular manner. A plurality of gussets 34 are secured to both stop 30 and member 24 to provide support for the stop 30. Load shoe 18 is connected to cylinder 22 by providing an opening 36 in gussets 34 through which a pin 38 may be positioned. The load shoe 18 may have a length of any desired length. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, load shoe 18 has a length dimension greater than the dimension of the load carried by the load shoe measured in the same direction.

The load shoe is carried by the frame 12 and the support members 14, 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Load shoe 18 is movable longitudinally of members 14 and 16. Member 24 of load shoe 18 is provided with guides 40. These guides 40 are spaced apart a distance measured transversely of the longitudinal dimension of the member 24 a sufficient distance to accommodate support members 14 and 16 therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3, guides 40 are positioned adjacent to members 14 and 16 when load shoe 18 is assembled on the members. Guides 40 extend longitudinally of the load shoe 18 the entire length thereof. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the member 24 is a channel member and the guides 40 are flanges of the channel member.

A support member 42 is securedto the member 24 of the load shoe 18. Member 42 is elongated and also extends the entire length of the load shoe 18. Member 42 is positioned between the guides 40 in spaced apart relation therewith. Member 42 is generally parallel to guides 40. Similarly, bars 44 and 46 are secured to the member 24 adjacent to the guides 40, respectively. Bars 44 and 46 extend generally parallel to and are positioned between the guides 40 and the member 42. The guides 40, the member 42 and the bars 44 and 46 each extend from the member 24 in the same direction. In the Figures, they are shown to depend from the member 24.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 8, the frame 12 and the members l4 and 16 are shown in detail. Frame 12 is elongated and members 14 and 16 are secured to the frame 12 as aforementioned. Members 14 and 16 are spaced apart and generally parallel to each other, members 14 and 16 extend the entire length of the frame 12. The spacing of the members 14 and 16 is sufficient to allow the positioning of the member 42 therebetvveen and the positioning of the members 14 and 16 between the guides 40 of the load shoe 18. Secured to the frame 12 between the members 14 and 16 and generally parallel therewith is a bar 50. Bars 44, 46 and 50 are of carbon hard steel bar stock. Bar 50 extends the entire length of the frame 12 when the load shoe 18 is supported on the frame 12, members 14 and 16 engage bars 44 and 46, respectively, and member 42 engages bar 50. Bars 44, 46 and 50 provide a hard wear surface for members 14, 16 and 42.

For reasons to be discussed hereinafter, a plurality of pins 52 are secured to members 14 and 16. As is shown in FIG. 7, pins 52 are spaced apart equal distances longitudinally over the entire length of the members 14 and 16. Pins 52 are secured to the members 14, 16 in a manner illustrated by FIG. 8. The pins 52 are inserted within openings 54in bars 56. Bars 56 are secured to members 14 and 16 and pins 52 are secured to the bars 56 by welding or the like, Reinforcing blocks 53 are secured to bars 56 and pins 52 in a like manner. At a position remote from pins 52, blocks 53 are lower than pins 52. Thus, the upwardly facing surfaces of blocks 53 define incline planes terminating at pins 52. Each of the pins 52 extend out wardly from the member 14 or 16. Blocks 53 have dimensions measured in the same direction and generally equal to the exposed axial length and diameter of pins 52. (See FIGS. and 7). As shown in FIG. 5, each of the pins 52 extend from one of the members 14 or 16 toward the other member. Further, pins 52 are arranged in pairs, each pin of a pair is opposite the other pin of the pair. For example, there is a pair 52a, 52b, 52c and so on (see FIG. 5).

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is shown the cylinder shoe 31 of the invention. The cylinder shoe 31 is constructed similarly to the load shoe 18; and thus, like parts will be given like reference numerals. With regard to those parts of the cylinder shoe 31 which bear like reference numerals, the description hereinabove with regard to the load shoe 18 will suffice.

The cylinder shoe 31 comprises a member 24 having guides 40, central member 42 and bars 44 and 46 secured thereto. Secured to both the member 24 and the bars 44 and 46, respectively, are a pair of lugs 60 and 62. Lugs 60 and 62 are spaced from the guides 40 by the bars 44 and 46, respectively. Lugs 60 and 62 also extend longitudinally of members 24 and 42 and bars 44 and 46. Lugs 60 and 62 each have a surface 61 and hooked portions 64 and 66. Cylinder shoe 31 is also carried by members 14 and 16, similarly to the load shoes 18. The hooked portions 64 and 66 of the lugs 60 and 62 are secured to the member 24 of the cylinder shoe 31 such that the hooked portions engage two pair (four in total) of pins 52.

A slot 70 is formed in member 24 so as to extend from end 28 inwardly to a position 72. Slot 70 is elongated having a width sufficient to allow the cylinder 22 to fit therein. Two cylinder brackets 74 are secured to member 24 adjacent to position 72. Each cylinder bracket 74 has an opening 76 therein through which a pin 38 can be positioned. Brackets 74 are spaced apart so as to allow cylinder portion 80 to be positioned therebetween and pin 38 to be inserted through the openings 76 and the opening in the member 80. The cylinder 22 is shown in FIG. 9 to include a ram 82 having a lug 85 secured to the distal end thereof with an opening 84 therein. Lug 85 is positioned between two of the gussets 34 abovedescribed and pin 38 is positioned in openings 36 and opening 84. By these means the ram 82 is connected to the load shoe 18 and the cylinder 22 is connected to the cylinder shoe 31.

Secured to the member 24 instead of stop 30 is a jackplate 90. Plate 90 comprises a member 92 secured to the member 24 adjacent to one side of slot 70 in a manner to upstand generally vertically from surface 26 and to extend longitudinally of the member 24 and a member 94 which is secured to both member 92 and member 24 so as to upstand from the surface 26 generally perpendicularly thereof and to extend generally transversely of the member 24 adjacent to end 28.

In a specific embodiment, many of the parts of the device of the invention can be conventional. For example, the members 14, 16 and 42 can each be conventional rails. As aforementioned, members 24 can be conventional channel members. Bars 44, 46 and 50 can be conventional A inch by 4 inch 4050 carbon hard steel bar, pins 52 can be conventional 1 inch diameter steel rod and frame 12 can be conventional 33 foot by 1 inch by 24 inch bar stock.

In a specific embodiment, 60 pound rails are used, a 4 foot cylinder is used and the pins 52 are spaced 35 and 6 inches apart. Frame 12 and the rails 14 and 16 are joined together forming frame lengths 33 feet long. Several lengths can be bolted together by conventional rail splices.

In operation, two devices 10, both including a load shoe 18, a cylinder shoe 31, a cylinder 22, and a frame 12 are positioned side by side as shown in FIG. 13. A power unit 100 is provided with engine 102, a pump 104, a fluid reservoir 106, and a control unit 108 mounted on a common base. This power unit 100 can be moved from location to location, as can each device 10.

A load such as that shown in FIGS. 13 through 15 in dashed lines is positioned on the load shoes 18. Preferably, the load shoes 18 are positioned beneath the load to be moved in a manner such that the surface 32 of the stops 30 engage the load. Each of the cylinders 22 are then operated to fully extend the rams 82 thereof and the cylinder shoes 31 are positioned on the members 14 and 16. Cylinders 22 are then connected to the power unit 100 as shown in FIG. 13. Power unit 100 may either be positioned on the members 14 and 16 and connected to the cylinder shoes 31 by chains (not shown) such that it will follow the cylinder shoes 31 as they move on the members 14 and 16, or can be positioned adjacent to the members 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 13. By manipulating the control lever of the control unit 108, the cylinders 22 may be operated so as to retract the rams 82 and thereby move the load toward the cylinders.

Cylinder shoes 31 by means of the lugs 60 and 62 engage the pins 52 and thus remain stationary. Once the rams 82 are fully retracted, the cylinders 22 may be operated so as to once again fully extend the rams 82. As the rams 82 are thus extended, the cylinder shoes 31 are disengaged from the pins 52 and are moved by the cylinders 22 away from the load. As soon as the rams 82 are fully extended, the cylinders 22 may be once again operated to retract the rams 82 and to move the load an additional increment. As the rams 82 are retracted, the cylinder shoes 31 once again engage the pins 52 and remain stationary. By this means, the load may be moved as desired.

The cylinder shoes 31 are disengaged from the pins 52 as the cylinders 22 are operated to fully extend the rams 82 as abovementioned because of the interaction between the pins 52, the reinforcing blocks 53, and the lugs 60 and 62. As can be seen by referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, the lugs 60 and 62 will engage the pins 52 as the load shoe 31 is moved on the members 14 and 16 toward the right, and the cylinder shoes 31 will be disengaged from the pins 52 and raised by the interaction between the reinforcing blocks 53 and the surface 61 of the lugs 60 and 62 as the cylinder shoes 31 are moved to the left on members 14 and 16.

The load can be also pushed by the cylinders 22. However, cylinder shoes 31 are used for this purpose which have the lugs 60 and 62 reversed (turned end for end with respect to the cylinder shoes 31) from those illustrated in the drawings. Thus, hooked portion 66, in this embodiment, will be adjacent end 28 and hooked portion 64, will be remote therefrom. These cylinder shoes function identically with the cylinder shoes afore described, the only difierence being that the hooked portions 64 and 66 now engage the distal ends of the reinforcing blocks 53 rather than the pins 52, and the cylinder shoes are disengaged while the cylinders 22 are operated to extend the rams 82 by the interaction of the surface 61 of the lugs 60 and 62 and the pins 52, not the blocks 53.

At times, it may be that the cylinders 22 are not sufficiently powerful to begin the load moving. This may be due to the members 14 and 16 sagging between their opposite ends or the members 14 and 16 being slightly inclined, or other reasons. It has been found that once the load has begun moving, in these instances, the cylinders 22 are entirely adequate to keep the load moving. However, to initiate motion between the load and the members 14 and 16, the jackplate is provided. By positioning a jack (not shown) between the jackplate 90 and the load, the load may be urged into motion in all cases sufficiently to allow the cylinders 22 to move the load. Experience has proven that while a jack is not necessary in many uses of the devices 10, the addition of the jackplate 90 to the cylinder shoes 31 such that a jack can be used whenever the cylinders 22 prove inadequate to initially begin the load moving, is a useful addition to the structure of the cylinder shoes 31.

Large and heavy apparatus can be moved with a minimum amount of effort and in a safe manner by use of the devices in the manner above described. Such apparatus can be moved with such precision that damage to the apparatus or its surroundings does not occur. Any size or weight apparatus may be moved by the device of the invention. As the weight of the apparatus to be moved increases, the rail size and the cylinder capacity may have to be increased, as above mentioned.

By positioning another pair of devices 10 at an angle to the devices 10 illustrated in FIG. 13, and pushing the load onto load shoes of the second pair of devices 10, the load may be moved around a corner. Other manuevering of loads by the devices 10 are within the imagination of a man skilled in the art of moving such loads.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable apparatus for moving heavy loads with precision comprising a load carrying device having a frame with a broad frame-supporting surface, an elongated support member secured to said frame, a load carrier resting on and being supported by said support member, said load carrier having a flat upwardly facing surface on which a load to be moved is placed, said load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means for moving said load carrier on said support member, said frame and said load carrier being separable from said moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, said device having a second support member secured to said frame, said firstmentioned and second support members being spaced apart from and generally parallel to each other, said carrier resting on and being supported by both of said members, a second load-carrying device, said second load-carrying device having a second load carrier supported thereon, and means for moving said first-mentioned and second load carriers in conjunction with each other, whereby a common load can be supported on and moved by said load-carrying devices conjointly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guiding means includes a guide and a load-supporting member secured to said load carrier, said load-supporting member and guide being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other, said lead supporting member and said guide depending downwardly from said load carrier, said load-supporting member extending downwardly a distance greater than said guide, the spacing between said load-supporting member and said guide being sufficient to receive therebetween said support member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load carrier has opposite ends, and further comprising a stop member secured to said load carrier adjacent to one of said opposite ends, and wherein said moving means comprises a fluid actuated power cylinder connected to said load carrier and to said support member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moving means is connected to said load carrier and to an elongated member resting on and being supported by said support member, said member being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said member having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means secured to said member and said support member for connecting said support member to said member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises a luralit of pins rigidly secured to said support member, said pins being spaced apart, and a pin-engaging member rigidly secured to said member, said pin-engaging member depending from said member in spaced relation to said guide.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said guide and said pinengaging member are spaced apart a distance sufiicient to accommodate said support member therebetween.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said guiding means includes a guide and a load-supporting member secured to said load carrier, said load-supporting member and guide being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other, said loadsupporting member and said guide depending downwardly from said load carrier, said load-supporting member extending downwardly a distance greater than said guide, the spacing between said load-supporting member and said guide being sufficient to receive therebetween said support member.

8. A portable apparatus for moving heavy loads with precision comprising a load-carrying device having a frame with a broad frame-supporting surface, an elongated support member secured to said frame, a load carrier resting on and being supported by said support member, said load carrier having a flat upwardly facing surface on which a load to be moved is placed, said load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means for moving said load carrier on said support member, said frame and said load carrier being separable from said moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, a second loadcarrying device, said second device having a second frame with a broad second frame-supporting surface, an elongated second support member secured to said second frame, a second load carrier resting on and being supported by said second support member, said second load carrier having a second flat upwardly facing surface, said second load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said second support member, said second load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said second support member, and second means for moving said second load carrier on said second support member, said second frame and said second load carrier being separable from said second moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, and wherein said first and second moving means include a common moving means actuating device; whereby said first and second load carriers can be moved con jointly. 

1. A portable apparatus for moving heavy loads with precision comprising a load carrying device having a frame with a broad frame-supporting surface, an elongated support member secured to said frame, a load carrier resting on and being supported by said support member, said load carrier having a flat upwardly facing surface on which a load to be moved is placed, said load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means for moving said load carrier on said support member, said frame and said load carrier being separable from said moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, said device having a second support member secured to said frame, said first-mentioned and second supPort members being spaced apart from and generally parallel to each other, said carrier resting on and being supported by both of said members, a second load-carrying device, said second load-carrying device having a second load carrier supported thereon, and means for moving said first-mentioned and second load carriers in conjunction with each other, whereby a common load can be supported on and moved by said load-carrying devices conjointly.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guiding means includes a guide and a load-supporting member secured to said load carrier, said load-supporting member and guide being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other, said load-supporting member and said guide depending downwardly from said load carrier, said load-supporting member extending downwardly a distance greater than said guide, the spacing between said load-supporting member and said guide being sufficient to receive therebetween said support member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load carrier has opposite ends, and further comprising a stop member secured to said load carrier adjacent to one of said opposite ends, and wherein said moving means comprises a fluid actuated power cylinder connected to said load carrier and to said support member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moving means is connected to said load carrier and to an elongated member resting on and being supported by said support member, said member being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said member having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means secured to said member and said support member for connecting said support member to said member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of pins rigidly secured to said support member, said pins being spaced apart, and a pin-engaging member rigidly secured to said member, said pin-engaging member depending from said member in spaced relation to said guide.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said guide and said pin-engaging member are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate said support member therebetween.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said guiding means includes a guide and a load-supporting member secured to said load carrier, said load-supporting member and guide being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other, said load-supporting member and said guide depending downwardly from said load carrier, said load-supporting member extending downwardly a distance greater than said guide, the spacing between said load-supporting member and said guide being sufficient to receive therebetween said support member.
 8. A portable apparatus for moving heavy loads with precision comprising a load-carrying device having a frame with a broad frame-supporting surface, an elongated support member secured to said frame, a load carrier resting on and being supported by said support member, said load carrier having a flat upwardly facing surface on which a load to be moved is placed, said load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said support member, said load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said support member, and means for moving said load carrier on said support member, said frame and said load carrier being separable from said moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, a second load-carrying device, said second device having a second frame with a broad second frame-supporting surface, an elongated second support member secured to said second frame, a second load carrier resting on and being supported by said second support member, said second load carrier having a second flat upwardly facing surface, said second load carrier being slidable longitudinally of said second support member, said second load carrier having means thereon for guiding said movement along said second support member, and second means for moving said second load carrier on said second support member, said second frame and said second load carrier being separable from said second moving means and each other, said frame, load carrier and moving means each being portable, and wherein said first and second moving means include a common moving means actuating device; whereby said first and second load carriers can be moved conjointly. 